GoLocal Files Complaint Against URI President’s Office for Failure to Respond to Document Request
GoLocalProv News Team
GoLocal Files Complaint Against URI President’s Office for Failure to Respond to Document Request
The details of the violation are clear, and the University admits in an email to GoLocal that it ignored the request.
On November 15, 2024, GoLocal filed an APRA request to the president’s office at URI relating to emails and documents relating to a donation to the University.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBy law, the University had ten days to respond to the request. GoLocal received no response and weeks later, the URI admitted it failed to respond.
“The University of Rhode Island has an entire legal department, and it confirmed they received the request for public documents, but then they just ignored the request,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and co-founder of GoLocal.
“This is an embarrassment to the University by the administration. It raises questions about what President Marc Parlange is trying to withhold,” said Fenton.
READ COMPLAINT BELOW
Attn: Open Government Unit
Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
On November 15, GoLocalProv filed an Access to Public Records Act request with the University of Rhode Island seeking "all electronic communications to and from the President's office, including but not limited to the president, regarding the Schilling family donation to the University.”
After filing via the University’s electronic portal, GoLocal immediately received a confirmation that the request was received. SEE BELOW.
GoLocal received no response to the filing within the statutory ten (10) business days. The University did not request an extension nor did it provide responsive documents within the ten day period.
On December 5, GoLocal followed up with the University, notifying them that they had not responded and had violated the law.
In an email to GoLocal — SEE BELOW — from the General Counsel admitted the failure to response.
Mr. Fenton,
I am in receipt of your below request submitted through the University’s APRA request webform, which indicates it’s in follow-up to a prior submission. I have located the prior submission, which requests: “Please provide copies of all electronic communications to and from the President's office, including but not limited to the president, regarding the Schilling family donation to the University.” I apologize that you have not received a response to that request and will get that to you as soon as possible, by tomorrow at the latest. Please feel free to give me a call if there is anything further you would like to discuss.
Lauren
Lauren A. Jensen, Esq.
Deputy General Counsel
Office of the General Counsel
Green Hall, 35 Campus Avenue
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
P: 401.874.4491
F: 401.874.4803
This is a clear violation of the law. The University has extensive resources and should be cited and penalized for ignoring the filing.
Sincerely,
Joshua N. Fenton
CEO and co-founder
GoLocalProv
Suite 100
Turks Head Plaza
Providence, RI 02903